Means for suspending and vibration isolating flow promoting apparatus from a flowable material container

ABSTRACT

This invention provides improved means for suspending and vibration isolating material flow promoting apparatus from a flowable material container. Basically, the improved means provided by the present invention comprises a member including a central portion, which can be arranged to extend generally vertically between the apparatus and the container, and first and second hollow end portions, located at the opposite ends of the central portion, which can be respectively interconnected to the apparatus and the container. Each of the hollow end portions contains a vibration isolator, and each of the isolators has a bore, which will be arranged generally horizontally when the central portion of the member is arranged generally vertically, for respectively receiving fastener means for securing the first end portion of the member to the apparatus and the second end portion of the member to the container. In particular accordance with the present invention, the isolator bores have their central axes offset from one another by an angle.

United StateS Patent 1 Dumbaugh 11 3,744,676 [451 July 10,1973

[ MEANS FOR SUSPENDING AND VIBRATION ISOLATING FLOW PROMOTING APPARATUSFROM A FLOWABLE MATERIAL CONTAINER [75] Inventor: George D. Dumbaugh,Louisville,

[73] Assignee: Vibranetics, Inc., Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,077

[52] US. Cl. a 222/161 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 3/12 [58] Field of Search222/161, 196, 197-201;

[56] 2 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,278,081 10/1966 Carter222/161 X 2,380,274 7/1945 Trott 3,248,076 4/1966 Ferguson 248/15Primary Examir'ter-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner- Thomas E.Kocovsky Attorney-Harry B. ODonnell, 11! et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT This invention provides improvedmeans for suspending andvibration isolating material flow promoting apparatus from a flowablematerial container. Basically, the improved means provided by thepresent invention comprises a member including a central portion, whichcan be arranged to extend generally vertically between the apparatus andthe container, and first and second hollow end portions, located at theopposite ends of the central portion, which can be respectivelyinterconnected to the apparatus and the container. Each of the hollowend portions contains a vibration isolator, and each of the isolatorshas a bore, which will be arranged generally horizontally when thecentral portion of the member is arranged generally vertically,forrespectively receiving fastener means for securing thefirst endportion of the member to the apparatus and the isolator bores have theircentral axes offset from one another by an angle.

8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures MEANS FOR SUSPENDING AND VIBRATIONISOLATING FLOW PROMOTING APPARATUS FROM A FLOWABLE MATERIAL CONTAINERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to material storagemeans and, more particularly, to improved means for suspending andvibration isolating flow promoting apparatus from a generally verticallyarranged flowable material container.

In the past, flowable means have been provided for promoting flow ofstored fowable materials within and from a storage container. Frequentlythese flow promoting means are not integrally formed with the containerand, instead, comprise separately manufactured apparatus which issubsequently connected with the container. Typically, such flowpromoting means are suspended from the container adjacent a dischargeopening that is usually provided in the bottom of the container.

Heretofore, various means have been provided for suspending the flowpromoting apparatus from the container. These old flow promotingapparatus suspension means have also incorporated means for vibrationisolating the apparatus from the container. One typical form of suchprior-art suspending and vibration isolating means is described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,173,583, while yet another old form is illustrated in FIGS.1, 1A and 3-6 of the present drawings.

These aforenoted prior-art suspending and vibration isolating means haveall left quite a bit to be desired in the degree of vibration isolationthey have provided between the container and the material flow promotingapparatus. I i

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides improved means forsuspending and vibration isolating material flow promoting apparatusfrom a flowable material container. Basically, the improved meansprovided by the present invention comprises a member including a centralportion, which can be arranged to extend generally vertically betweenthe apparatus and the container, and first and second hollow endportions, located at the opposite ends of the central portion, which canbe respectively intercon nected to the apparatus and the container. Eachof the hollow end portions contains a vibration isolator, and each ofthe isolators has a bore, which will be arranged generally horizontallywhen the central portion of the member is arranged generally vertically,for respectively receiving fastener means for securing the first endportion of the member to the apparatus and the second end portion of themember to the container. In particular accordance with the presentinvention, the isolator bores have their central axes offset from oneanother by an angle.

Preferably, this offsetting angle is substantially a right angle (a 90angle) and the isolator bores are each lined with a sleeve and havetheir central axes arranged substantially at a right angle (a 90 angle)with respect to the major axis of the central portion of the member,which is rigid and integrally formed with the two hollow end portions.

The improved means of the present invention provide vastly improvedconnection and vibration isolation between the container and the flowpromoting apparatus since the angular offsetting between the centralaxes of the two isolator bores allows torsional movement of theapparatus withrespect to the container in two different directions aboutthe generally vertical axis of the member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic partly broken elevational perspectiveview of a generally vertically arranged flowable material storagecont'ainer utilizing one well-known prior-art form of means forsuspending and vibration isolating flow promoting means from it;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged elevational perspective view showing details ofconstruction of the prior-art suspending and vibration isolating meansshown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2 and 2A are views respectively generally simI- lar to FIGS. 1 and1A, but instead illustrating a presently preferred form of improvedsuspending and vibration isolator means provided in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGS. 36 are diagrammatic views respectively showing the operation,force vectorial relationships and constructon of the prior-art meansillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A, with FIG. 3 being a sectional view takenalong line 33 of FIG. 1, with FIG. 4 being a force vector diagram of twooperational conditions while FIG. 5 illustrates the force vectorrelationships of two other operational conditions, and with FIG. 6 beinga smaller and diagrammatic elevational view of the device shown in FIG.1A as seen from a different angle; and

FIGS. 7-10 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 3-6 of improved meansof the present invntion shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. ii

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 1A thereof, there is illustrated a generalyvertically arranged flowable material storage container 10 utilizing awell-known prior-art form of means 11 for suspending and vibrationisolating flow promoting apparaus 12 from it.

The container 10 comprises a generally vertically arranged hollowfrusto-conical storage hopper or bin having a bottom opening surroundedby a downwardly extending skirt 13 through which material can be discharged from the container 10.

The flow promoting apparatus 12 is of a well-known type that ismanufactured separately from the container 10 and includes anothergenerally vertically arranged hollow frusto-conical discharge section 14which has a bottom discharge opening that is surrounded by another skirt15 and. an open upper end that is interonnected tothe container skirt 13by seal means, such as a flexible sleeve 16 which is tightly bandedabout it and the container skirt 13 by fastener means such as bands 17.The flow promoting apparatus 12 further includes a rotar motor 18 thatis connected to the apparatus discharge section 14 by a bracket 19, withthe motor 18 having its rotary output shaft 20 generally verticallyarranged. The motor output shaft 20 has generally horizontally arrangedweights 21 eccentrically mounted on its opposite upper and lower ends.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1., 1A and 3-6, the ap paratus 12 issuspended and vibration isolated from the container 10 by a well-knownprior-art means 11. As illustrated, these prior-art suspending andviration isolating means 11 include four suspension and vibratonisolating members 22A-D, each of which is of substantially identicalconstruction, and which are arranged with their generally vertical ormajor axes spaced apart from one another by approximately 90 anglesaround the lower outer circumference of the container 10 (FIG. 3).

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1A and 6, each of the conventional members22A-D includes a central portion 23, which can be arranged to extendgenerally vertically between the apparatus 12 and the container 10, andfirst and second hollow end portions 25 and 25 located at the oppositeends of the central portion 23 which can be respectively interconnectedto the apparatus 12 and the container 10. Each of the hollow endportions 24 and 25 respectively contains a vibration isolator 26 and 27,and each of the isolators 26 and 27 respectively has a lined bore 28 and29 which will be arranged generally horizontally when the centralportion 23 of the member 22 is arranged generally vertically. Thesebores 28 and 29 respectively receive fastener means, such as lowerthrough bolts 30, for securing the first or lower end portion 24 of themember 23 to the apparatus 12, as by connecting it to one of fourright-angularly spaced apart brackets 31 which extend radially outwardlyfrom the upper outer periphery of the apparatus discharge section 14 andupper through bolts 30' for securing the second end portion 25 to thecontainer 10, as by connecting it to one of four other right-angularlyspaced apart brackets 32 which extend radially outwardly from the lowerouter periphery of the container 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 3-6, each of these prior-art suspending andvibration isolating members 22A-D has the central axes 28' and 29 ofboth of its isolator bores 28 and 29 arranged parallel to one another.

As best shown in FIG. 3, two of these prior-art members 22A and 22D arearranged with the central axes 28' and 29' of both isolator bores 28 and29 of each member respectively aligned in two generally vertical planesAA and DD, both of which planes A-A and DD'intersect at a first angle ofapproximately 45 another generally vertical plane E-E which passesthrough the radial centers of both thecontainer and the motor outputshaft 20. And, the other two of these prior-art members 22B and 22C arearranged with the central axes 28 and 29' of both isolator bores 28 and29 of each member respectively aligned in two other generally verticalplanes B-B and C-C, both of which planes. intersect at a second angle Bof approximately 45 the aforenoted plane BE which passes through theradial centers of both the container 10 and the motor output shaft 20.

In operation of the prior-art mechanism shown in FIGS. l-lA and 3-6, themotor 18 of the flowpromoting apparatus 12 is energized to causerotation of its output shaft and the weights 2] eccentrically mountedthereon (in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3). This, in turn,causes generally horizontal movement of the apparatus 12 with respect tothe container 10. As best shown in FIG. 3, the weights 21 are rotatedthrough four major points of the compass, which are respectivelyindicated as points 1,2,3 and 4, and each of which is disposed at a45angle with respect to both of the bore central axes 28' and 29' of allfour of the old prior-art type suspending and vibration isolatingmembers 22A-D.

When the motor shaft-carried eccentric weights 21 are rotated intoeither positions 1 or 3 (FIG. 3), the force vectors will be as shown inFIG. 4 and vibration isolation will be provided between the apparatus 12and the container 10 only in a generally horizontal direction that isdisposed generally parallel to the planes AA and DD, while substantiallyno such isolation will be provided in the direction parallel to theplanes B-B and C-C, whereas, when the weights 21 are in either positions2 or 4 (FIG. 3), the force vectors will be as shown in FIG. 5 andvibration isolation will be provided between the apparatus 12 andcontainer 10 only in a generally horizontal direction that is disposedgenerally parallel to the planes BB and C-C, while substantially no suchisolation will be provided in the direction parallel to the other planesA-A and DD.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 2A and 7-10, there is illustrated in detail apresently preferred form of improved means 111 provided in accordancewith the present invention for suspending and vibration isolatingflowpromoting apparatus 112 from generally vertically arranged flowablematerial storage container 110, which provide vastly improved connectionand vibration isolation between the container 1 10 and the flowpromoting apparatus 112.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the container comprises a generallyvertically arranged hollow frustoconical storage hopper or bin having abottom opening surrounded by a downwardly extending skirt 13 throughwhich material can be discharged from the container 110.

The flow promoting apparatus 1 12 is of a well-known type that ismanufactured separately from the container 110 and includes anothergenerally vertically arranged hollow fusto-conical discharge section 114which has a bottom discharge opening that is surrounded by another skirt115 and an open upper end that is interconnected to the container skirt1 13 by seal means, such as a flexible sleeve 116 which is tightlybanded about it and the container skirt 1 13 by fastener means such asbands 117. The flow promoting apparatus 112 further includes a rotarymotor 1 18 that is connected to the apparatus discharge section 114 by abracket 119, with the motor 118 having its rotary output shaft 120generally vertically arranged. The motor output shaft 120 has generallyhorizontally arranged weights 121 eccentrically mounted on its oppositeupper and lower ends.

However, as further illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2A and 7-10, the apparatus 112 is suspended and vibration isolated from the container 110 by theimproved means 111 of the present invention. As ilustrated, theseimproved suspending and vibration isolation means 111 include foursuspension and vibration isolation members 122a-d, each of which is ofsubstantially identical construction, and which are arranged with theirmajor axes generally vertical and spaced apart from one another byapproximately 90 angles around the lower outer circumference of thecontainer 110 (FIG. 7).

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2A and 10, each of the improved membersl22a-d provided in accordance with the present invention includes acentral portion 123 which can be arranged to extend generally verticallybetween the apparatus 112 and the container 110, and first and secondhollow end portions 124 and 125 located at the opposite ends of thecentral portion 123 which can be respectively interconnected to theapparatus 112 and the container 110. Each of the hollow end portions 124and 125 respectively contains a vibration isolator 126 and 127,typically formed of an elastomeric compound, and each of the isolators126 and 127 respectively has a metallic sleeve-lined bore 128 and 129which will be arranged generally horizontally when the central portion123 of the member 122 is arranged generally vertically. These bores 128and 129 respectively receive fastener means, such as lower through bolts130, for securing the first or lower end portion 124 of the member 123to the apparatus 112, as by connecting it toone of four right-angularlyspaced apart brackets 13] whlch extend radially outwardly rrom the upperouter periphery of the apparatus discharge section 114 and upper throughbolts 130 for securing the second end portion 125 to the container 110,as by connecting it to one of four other rightangularly spaced apartbrackets 132 which extend radially outwardly from the lower outerperiphery of the container 110.

However, in particular accordance with the present invention, and asshown in FIGS. 2, 2A and 7-10, each of these improved suspending andviration isolating members 122a-d has its two isolator bores 128 and 129constructed with their central axes 128' and 129' offset from oneanother by an angle a. Preferably, this offsetting angle aissubstantially a right angle (a 90 angle) and the bore central axes128' and. 129' are arranged substantially at a right angle (a 90? angle)with respect to the generally vertically arranged major axis of thecentral portion 123 of the member 122a-d, which is rigid and integrallyformed with the two hollow end portions 124 and 125.

As best shown in FIG. 7, two of the improved members 122a and 122d arearranged with the central axes 129 of their upper isolator bores 129each respectively arranged in two generally vertically arranged planes aa and dd, both of which planes a a and d-d intersect at the first angle0 of approximately 45 another generally .vertically arranged plane e e,which passes through the radial centers of both the container 110 andthe motor output shaft 120. And, the other two of these improved members122b and 1220 are arranged with the central axes 129' of their upperisolator bores 129 each respectively arranged in two generally vericallyarranged planes bb and c-c, both of which planes b-b and c-c intersectat the second angle [-1 of approximately 45 the aforenoted plane ae,which passes through the radial centers of both the container 1 10 andthe motor output shaft 120. However, in particular accordance with thepresent invention, two of the improved members 122a and 122d also havetheir lower end portions 124 interconnected by lower through bolts 130to the apparatus with angularly offset central axes 128' of their lowerisolator bores 128 arranged in a generally vertical plane f-f that isalso disposed at the second angle [3 with respect to the plane e-e,while the other two of the improved members 1221; and 122c have theirlower end portions 124 interconnected to the apparatus 112 with theangularly offset central axes 128 of their lower isolator bores 128arranged in a generally vertical plane g--g thatis disposed at thefirstangle 0 with respect to the plane e-e, which passes through the radialcenters of both the container 110 and the motor output shaft 120.

In operation of the improved mechanism in FIGS. 2, 2A and 7-10, themotor 118 of the flow-promotingapparatus 112 is energized to causerotation of its output shaft 120 and the weights 121 eccentricallymounted thereon (in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7). This,in turn, causes generally horizontal movement of the apparatus 1 12 withrespect to the container 1 10. As best shown in FIG. 7, the weights 121are rotated through four major points of the compass, which arerespectively indicated as points 1,2,3 and 4 and each of which isdisposed at a 45 angle with respect to all eight of the bore centralaxes 128 and 129' of the four improved suspending and vibrationisolating members 122a-d of the present invention. When the motorshaftcarried eccentric weights 121 are rotated into either positions 1or 3 (FIG. 7), the force vectors will be as shown in FIG. 8, and,because the central axes 128' and 129 of each of the improved members122a and 122d are angularly offset from one another by the angle a ofapproximately (FIGS. 7 and 10), vibration isolation will be providedbetween the apparatus 112 and the container in generally horizontaldirections that are disposed generally parallel to all six of the planesaa, b--b, cc,-dd, f-f and g"g. Similarly, when the motor shaft-carriedeccentric weights 121 are rotated into either positions 2 or 4 (FIG. 7),the force vectors will be as shown in FIG. 9, and, because th centralaxes 128 and 129' of each of the improved members 122a and 122d areangularlly offset from one another by the angle a of approximately 90(FIGS. 7 and 10), vibration isolation will be provided between theapparatus 112 and the container 110 in generally horizontal directionsthat are disposed generally parallel to all six of the planes aa, b-b,c-c, d-d, f-f, and

Thus, the improved means of the present invention provide vastlyimproved connection and vibration isolation between the container 110and the flowpromoting apparatus 112 when weights 121 are in positions1,2,3 or 4, since the angular offsetting (angle a) between the centralaxes 12 8 and 129' of the two iso- Iator bores 128 and 129 of each ofthe improved members 122a-d allows torsional movement of the apparatus112 with respect to the container 1 10 in two different directions aboutthe generally vertical axis 123 of each member 122a-d.

It should be apparent that while there have been described what arepresently considered to be a presently I lating material flowpromotingapparatus from agenen ally vertically arranged flowable materialcontainer, said improved means comprising:

a. a member including a rigid central portion, which can be arranged toextend generally vertically bcposite ends of said central portion, whichcan be,

respectively interconnected to said apparatus and said container,

b. each of said hollow end portions containing a vibration isolator,

c. each of said isolators having a bore, which will be arrangedgenerally horizontally when said central portion is arranged generallyvertically, for respectively receiving fastener means for eecuring saidfirst end portion to said apparatus and said second end portion to saidcontainer, and

(I. said bores having their central axes offset from one another by anangle.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said central axes of said bores arearranged substantially at a right angle to the major axis of saidcentral portion.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said hollow end portions and saidcentral portion are formed integrally bores is lined with a sleeve.

1. Improved means for suspending and vibration isolating material flowpromoting apparatus from a generally vertically arranged flowablematerial container, said improved means comprising: a. a memberincluding a rigid central portion, which can be arranged to extendgenerally vertically between said apparatus and said container, andfirst and second hollow end portions, located at the opposite ends ofsaid central portion, which can be respectively interconnected to saidapparatus and said container, b. each of said hollow end portionscontaining a vibration isolator, c. each of said isolators having abore, which will be arranged generally horizontally when said centralportion is arranged generally vertically, for respectively receivingfastener means for securing said first end portion to said apparatus andsaid second end portion to said container, and d. said bores havingtheir central axes offset from one another by an angle.
 2. The inventionof claim 1, wherein said central axes of said bores are arrangedsubstantially at a right angle to the major axis of said centralportion.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said hollow end portionsand said central portion are formed integrally with one another.
 4. Theinvention of claim 1, wherein each of said bores is lined with a sleeve.5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said angle is substantially a rightangle.
 6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said central axes of saidbores are arranged substantially at a right angle to the major axis ofsaid central portion.
 7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said hollowend portions and said central portion are formed integrally with oneanother.
 8. The invention of claim 7, wherein each of said bores islined with a sleeve.